When the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed in 1994, for the first time the criminal justice system, social services, and private non-profits came together to respond to the problem of domestic violence. VAWA has been highly effective, and was re-authorized in 2000 and 2005.
Similarly, the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), authorized in 1984, has provided assistance and compensation to victims of violent crime. Since the program was established, over four million victims have been helped each year by VOCA.
Today, both programs are under attack in the administration’s latest reckless budget. The President’s 2008 budget proposal seeks to cut VAWA funds by nearly half, slashing $404.6 million from Congress’s 2006 re-authorization. Furthermore, the President seeks to consolidate all VAWA programs into one block grant, a proposal that ignores the intent behind the act. And although Congress increased funding for VAWA in 2007, programs that fund rape crisis centers and that provide assistance to child witnesses to domestic violence remain underfunded.
At the same time, for the third year in a row, the President is trying to wipe out the VOCA balance, making the program dependent on taxpayer dollars instead of on criminal fines, as it has been since the program’s inception in 1984. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, this move would leave VOCA with a balance of ZERO DOLLARS in 2009. The result of this move would mean the discontinuation of services to crime victims, including children, in all 50 states. Currently, these funding requests have been delayed, and LSH strongly encourages stakeholders to contact Congress to ensure that VAWA and VOCA are passed with full funding.
LSH’s BDVP has seen a steady decrease in VOCA funding for the last 5 years. The program relies on these funds to provide crucial services for victims of domestic violence, including 24-hour hotline services and crisis medical advocacy services. “Last year, the Department provided crucial services to over 2800 victims of domestic violence,” says BDVP Director Ana Lisa Yoder. “Without VOCA, we will be forced to drastically cut back the services we can provide, as well as the clients we can support.”
“The Bilingual Domestic Violence Program is fighting to make sure these two programs have the funding they need to effectively help victims of domestic violence,” continues Ms. Yoder. “Since VAWA passed, states have passed more than 660 laws to stop domestic violence, to make stalking a crime, and to more forcefully address date rape. And the law makes a difference: the number of women murdered by their partners declined by 22% from 1993-2001. I can’t understand why the President is intent on cutting the program.”
“VOCA has also been highly effective,” adds LSH’s Executive Director Bia Vieira. “Fully half of the recipients of VOCA assistance are victims of domestic violence. VOCA funding is used to prevent child abuse, to help victims of terrorism, and victims of elder abuse. VOCA helps fund counseling for crime victims, funeral costs, rape crisis centers, and even lost wages. Why this Administration is so set on eliminating the program is beyond me.”
“We’re urging people to contact Congress to demand full funding for both VOCA and VAWA,” says Ms. Yoder. “LSH clients themselves will be denied assistance when they need it most if these cuts move forward. At a time when we’re seeing real progress in the fight against domestic violence, we need these programs to remain viable. Congress needs to hear from you.”
LSH intern Sarah Martin has been working overtime to get the message out. “I printed out postcards to send to our representatives in Congress and in the Senate, and mailed out about 80 cards. I also presented the information to my classmates, LSH staff, and the adult students we serve here at LSH. I also created the DV Awareness display in the lobby, including the postcards, to give all LSH clients a chance to take part in this important advocacy opportunity.”
Christene* is a 24 year old single mom who lives in Montgomery County. Three years ago, she came to Lutheran Settlement House for domestic violence counseling. Today, she is working two jobs, going to school full-time, and raising her 3-year old son. She is a true success story, and we are proud to have played a role in her recovery.
“I grew up in Charlotte North Carolina, but moved to the Blue Bell, Pennsylvania area,” says Christene. “I’m a single mom: my son’s father was my abuser.
“I guess the abuse started when I was seven months pregnant,” she continues. But the couple stayed together and tried to make it. Christene ’s partner left her when she was 8-and-a-half months pregnant. “When he left me, we got in an argument, and he punched me in my stomach. He pushed me down the steps, and hit me when I was pregnant. Being abused is the worst thing you could go through: I almost lost my son twice during the pregnancy. It’s scary to have to go through as woman and a mother.”
After their son was born, Christene took her abuser back. “He said everything would be different, but of course it happened again, including hitting me in front of my son.” That’s when Christene decided she’d had enough: she made an appointment with one of the domestic violence counselors here at LSH, and soon found a space in the Sheila Brown Women’s Center, a transitional housing program for women their escaping abusive partners.
She remembers vividly the day that she made up her mind to leave. “When I got into the program, and moved into the apartments at Sheila Brown, it was December 29 2004: that’s when I decided I wasn’t going to put up with it anymore, and left for good. I didn’t let him know address where I was living, but would see him in the streets once in awhile. He’d made threats and try to intimidate me, but with the program and my advocate, it got easier as days went by to put him out of my system.”
Christene says the counseling at Sheila Brown was what really turned her life around. “The weekly counseling sessions helped because they gave me so much info on different programs, gave me advice on how to get into school, and how to get my life back on track. The easiest way I can put it, it’s because of the program that I am at a point in my life where I am today. I don’t feel as though a man loves me if he has to hit me: l am so much stronger now because of having women who had been through the same things around me, surrounding me and supporting me. It gave me strength to work so hard for my son to show him that you are supposed to love women, not hit them. He’s very protective of me since he’s seen me get beaten.”
Today, Christene lives alone with her son: she works two jobs and is pursuing a degree in Communications. “I really want to work in TV,” she says. “If I earn a GPA of 3.4 or better this year, I can intern at CBS.”
Christene wants other women who are suffering with an abusive partner to know that there’s hope and help available at Lutheran Settlement House. “Because of the Bilingual Domestic Violence Program, I became so focused and determined about overcoming this obstacle. Now being here, I can tell people my story: look at me now! You can be by yourself, be a single mother, and still make it. I did.”
We wish Christene the best of luck in her endeavors: this remarkable young woman has taken control of her life, and is destined for success.
* Name has been changed to maintain client confidentiality
Here is a list of simple life-saving steps you can take to ensure a safe and happy holiday season!
- When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." Although this label does not mean the tree won't catch fire, it does indicate the tree will resist burning and should extinguish quickly.
- Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
- Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections, and discard damaged sets.
- Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.
- Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted.
- Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use only insulated staples to hold strings in place, not nails or tacks. Or, run strings of lights through hooks (available at hardware stores).
- Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire.
- Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. Leaded materials are hazardous if ingested by children.
- Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked down.
- In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable, keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to avoid the child swallowing or inhaling small pieces, and avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a child to eat them.
- Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "Angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays.
- Use care with "fire salts," which produce colored flames when thrown on wood fires. They contain heavy metals that can cause intense gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting if eaten. Keep them away from children.
- Do not burn wrapping papers in the fireplace. A flash fire may result as wrappings ignite suddenly and burn intensely.
- Small children may think that holiday plants look good enough to eat. But many plants can cause severe stomach problems. Plants to watch out for include: mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis. Keep all of these plants out of children's reach.
Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help. And remember to practice your home escape plan.
Happy Holidays!
* Some of the material courtesy of U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and U.S Fire Administration
When we launched our Purple Ribbon Campaign back in 2003, we thought it was a creative way to raise funds and awareness about domestic violence. Today the Purple Ribbon Campaign has proven to be more than that: through this campaign LSH has embraced the concept of social marketing, an innovative strategy in which local businesses and national corporations adopt LSH and the causes we address while increasing both visibility and business for the partnering enterprises.
This year’s partnership with the Chestnut Hill Business Association and the Chestnut Hill Community Association, which promoted the Fourth Anniversary of the Purple Ribbon Campaign, was an excellent example of social marketing. With the support of both associations, LSH won the backing of the entire neighborhood and business community, turning the entire neighborhood of Chestnut Hill purple and putting domestic violence on the radar of thousand of Philadelphia residents. Our campaign was very visual, from purple crosswalks to purple signs announcing the event along Germantown Avenue to purple ribbons sold in several stores.
The partnership was a win-win situation. Not only did the Campaign raise more than $5,000 to support the ongoing services provided by LSH for victims of domestic violence and their children, we obtained some of the most vital items our clients need to start fresh, such as clothing for moms and children, school supplies, toiletries, children’s toys. This campaign also brought tangible benefits for the neighborhood as well. By supporting our efforts, Chestnut Hill was not only able to increase the number of shoppers, most importantly the neighborhood will be seen as a community that cares!
Our hope is that in the future more communities, local businesses, and organizations will adopt LSH and support our Purple Ribbon Campaign. If you are interested in supporting next year’s campaign, please contact Suzette Belz at 215-426-8610 x 208 or sbelz@lutheransettlement.org
Lutheran Settlement House would like to thank once again our sponsors. Because of their support we are able to reach out to those who need our services the most. Verizon Wireless, Chestnut Hill Community Association, O’Doodles Toy Store, Chestnut Hill Villages, 3000BC SPA, Ten Thousand Villages, Chestnut Hill Health Care Foundation, and our media partner Telemundo.
Special thanks to WPVI-TV/6ABC Action News medical reporter Anita Brikman, Fox 29 anchor Dawn Stensland, NBC 10 anchor Dawn Timmeney and CBS 3 anchor Larry Mendte for joining the fight against domestic violence.
Thanks to the support of individuals, churches, and other charitable organizations we will be able to provide toys for our clients’ children from newborns to 10 years. Unfortunately, the older kids (10-16 years of age) and their moms are always harder to get gifts for. We believe that everyone deserves to have some joy this holiday season: YOU can bring a little joy into their lives by donating any or many of the following gifts. Please note: we are able to accept new gifts only!
Age-appropriate gifts, toys, and games, for children ranging from 10 to 12 year olds.
Teenagers are always harder to buy for: consider popular CDs or portable CD players, Game Boys, DVDs, and gift certificates. You can’t go wrong with a $25.00 gift certificate to Target, Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory, or many other fine stores, allowing teens to make their own decisions.
New coats, hats, scarves, gloves/mittens, and boots for Christmas. All sizes are welcome!
Moms can always use gift certificates to grocery stores, Walmart, Target, Bath and Body Works, and other stores that provide some of the finer things in life.
Self-Care Kits including: candles, journals, nail-care products, inspirational books, and toiletries.
We hope you’ll consider an in-kind donation this holiday season. For more information contact Suzette Belz, Director of Marketing and Philanthropy at 215-426-8610 x 208 or sbelz@lutheransettlement.org
We are in need of the best gift of all, the gift of time!
Beyond this holiday season you can give us a hand by sharing your skills and your time with us as a volunteer! The opportunities are endless: you could tutor an adult in math, serve a hot meal to our seniors, answer our domestic violence hotline, help with our Food Cupboard, coordinate activities for the kids at the shelter, or lead a scrapbooking, drama, gardening, or photography club for the seniors. Give us a call: there’s always something to contribute!
If you are interested in volunteer opportunities at LSH, please contact Jacqueline Berry at 215-426-8610 x 274 or Jberry@lutheransettlement.org
